A Golfer’s Guide to Game Formats: From Stroke to Scramble and Beyond
- wil ingram
- May 13
- 4 min read
Let’s be honest — we all love golf, but sometimes 18 holes of straight-up stroke play can feel a bit like doing taxes in khakis. Fortunately, golf comes with a variety of game formats to keep things fresh, fun, and occasionally friendship-ending. Whether you’re a tournament planner, a weekend warrior, or just tired of losing to the same guy with the $1,500 driver, here’s a breakdown of the most popular ways to play the game.
1. Stroke Play (Gross & Net)
The classic. The standard. The heartbreaker.
Gross Stroke Play: Total number of strokes, no handicap adjustments. Pure, raw, brutal golf. Lowest score wins — no excuses.
Net Stroke Play: Take your handicap into account. Suddenly that triple on 7 doesn’t sting so bad. Good for evening out skill levels and keeping egos (somewhat) intact.
2. Match Play
Hole-by-hole combat. Think UFC but with polos and putting.
You win holes, not strokes. If you triple-bogey a hole and your opponent quadruples it? Congrats, you just won that hole. Play can get aggressive, strategic, and gloriously petty. Great for head-to-head rivalries.
3. Scramble
Teamwork makes the tee shot tolerable.
Each player tees off. Pick the best ball. Everyone hits from there. Repeat until holed. This is the go-to format for charity events, corporate outings, and sandbaggers with short games made of duct tape and prayer.
Variants:
Texas Scramble: Same as above but require a minimum number of tee shots from each player.
Shamble: Like a scramble off the tee, then everyone plays their own ball from the best drive.
4. Best Ball (aka Four Ball)
Each player plays their own ball. Best score on each hole from the team counts. Works well in pairs and keeps the pressure low unless you’re the teammate who keeps losing balls in creeks.
5. Stableford
Points instead of punishment. Finally.
Rather than counting total strokes, you get points based on your score for each hole:
Double bogey or worse = 0
Bogey = 1
Par = 2
Birdie = 3
Eagle = 4
Albatross = 5+
Encourages aggressive play because that blow-up hole? Just a zero, not a soul-crusher.
6. Skins
Every hole is a battle. Cash is king.
Each hole is worth a “skin” (usually money or a point). Win the hole outright, you win the skin. Tie? It rolls over to the next hole. High-stakes drama that can turn a $5 bet into a $50 hole.
7. Nassau
The gentleman’s side hustle.
It’s basically three bets in one: front nine, back nine, and total 18. You can win (or lose) three ways. Toss in presses (bonus bets during play) and you’ve got a recipe for both glory and awkward Venmo requests.
8. Wolf
The ultimate mix of golf, poker, and betrayal.
Players rotate as the “Wolf” who decides whether to go solo or team up — after seeing everyone’s tee shot. Bluffing, alliances, and occasional backstabbing included. Perfect for foursomes who don’t mind a little chaos.
9. Bingo Bango Bongo
Not a cult. Just a weird scoring system.
Three points per hole:
Bingo: First on the green
Bango: Closest to the pin once all balls are on
Bongo: First to hole out
Helps level the playing field and makes even high handicappers feel like legends.
10. Quota (aka Points Game)
Golf meets goal-setting. Self-help meets self-destruction.
Players earn points like in Stableford but must try to beat a target (quota) based on their handicap. Example: A 10 handicap might need to earn 22 points. Beat your quota = winner. Miss it = better luck next round.
11. Flags (aka Tombstone)
Dramatic. Morbid. Kinda fun.
Each player gets a “flag” to plant when they reach their stroke allotment (par + handicap). The furthest you get before using all your strokes is your score. It’s like a golf-based Hunger Games. Last flag standing wins.
12. Chapman (Pinehurst)
Scramble’s brainy cousin.
Both players tee off, then hit each other’s drives for the second shot. Then choose the best ball and alternate shots in. A wild ride of strategy and second-guessing.
13. Alternate Shot (Foursomes)
For brave couples and best friends who want to test the limits.
You and a partner hit one ball, alternating shots. That means you live with each other’s mistakes — or ride the high of a perfect tee-to-green sequence.
Final Thoughts: Play It Your Way
The beauty of golf isn’t just the birdies or the beers after — it’s the endless ways to play. Different formats keep the game from going stale and allow you to highlight different skill sets, inject fresh strategy, or just shake off the monotony of another double bogey on 17.
So next time you tee it up, mix it up. Try Wolf. Throw in some skins. Get weird with Bingo Bango Bongo. Because in golf, the only real rule is this: don’t be the slow group.
Want to try these formats at South Bay Golf Club? Drop us a line or challenge your buddies to something new. Because no one remembers the guy who shot 83 — but they will remember the time you took all the skins on 18.
